Comments on: Things to Think About Before Pursuing Grad Schoolhttp://thebillfold.com/2013/01/things-to-think-about-before-pursuing-grad-school/
Everything About Money You Were Too Polite To AskTue, 03 Mar 2015 22:12:44 +0000hourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.9.1By: Darwinning@twitterhttp://thebillfold.com/2013/01/things-to-think-about-before-pursuing-grad-school/#comment-33188
Fri, 01 Feb 2013 03:23:58 +0000http://thebillfold.com/?p=21103#comment-33188Having a goal isn’t enough, can you actually get there is the real question. The risk has physical, emotional, and financial dimensions to it that some people underestimate to no end, I definitely did.
]]>By: oldflamehttp://thebillfold.com/2013/01/things-to-think-about-before-pursuing-grad-school/#comment-30334
Fri, 11 Jan 2013 17:03:39 +0000http://thebillfold.com/?p=21103#comment-30334I also did a Canadian MLIS and am graduating in the spring. I could have used this advice maybe in my third year of undergrad because at that point I thought I was going to do my PhD in psychology. I did the GRE and everything. By the time I finished the whole GRE thing and started the application process I decided I didn’t want to do that after all. I hate the research/academia environment! What do I actually like doing? Libraries. So that happened and everyone around me seemed very relieved. But I wish I had realized it sooner and saved myself a shit-ton of time, money, and energy wasted on those $%#@ exams and doing an honours thesis that I hated. (Context: in Canada usually you don’t have to do the GRE at all ever, except for Psychology programs. IDK.)

Some of the people I am going to school with now seem disillusioned about library school, but every bullshit thing it requires me to do is just a step towards my goal of graduating with this damn degree and getting a job. In undergrad I really liked that whole “learning for the sake of learning” thing, but you are going to HATE learning if you join grad school expecting that. Grad school is hard and it sucks and really not fun at all. So tl;dr, I totally agree that having a goal is necessary to living through this experience intact. And to avoid it if at all possible.

Law/Med School Guy is probably operating under the assumption that if he got into one degree surely the other degree will let him in too. But it still seems insane. Why would you do that to yourself??

]]>By: Michellehttp://thebillfold.com/2013/01/things-to-think-about-before-pursuing-grad-school/#comment-30021
Wed, 09 Jan 2013 23:24:44 +0000http://thebillfold.com/?p=21103#comment-30021@Jay Green Yeah go for it. Emails for everyone!
]]>By: anorktopushttp://thebillfold.com/2013/01/things-to-think-about-before-pursuing-grad-school/#comment-29956
Wed, 09 Jan 2013 18:41:39 +0000http://thebillfold.com/?p=21103#comment-29956@RocketSurgeon Didn’t see this yesterday, but thanks for the reply! I am really excited about those schools and the idea of spending a year abroad, so glad to hear the one-year thing isn’t a problem. We’ll see what my options are come spring, though.
]]>By: Jay Greenhttp://thebillfold.com/2013/01/things-to-think-about-before-pursuing-grad-school/#comment-29950
Wed, 09 Jan 2013 17:29:39 +0000http://thebillfold.com/?p=21103#comment-29950@Michelle @Mimi you two are both ME! I also have an undergrad anthro degree (with a concentration in race/gender/queer studies), did sexual health stuff in college, and work for a community health center now! I would love to talk to either/both of you about your experiences! Michelle, would you mind if I emailed you as well?
]]>By: Sadiehttp://thebillfold.com/2013/01/things-to-think-about-before-pursuing-grad-school/#comment-29945
Wed, 09 Jan 2013 16:57:43 +0000http://thebillfold.com/?p=21103#comment-29945@Alex Shepard@facebook Going to law school just to network sounds like an incredibly expensive (and stressful) way to network.
]]>By: Julia duMaishttp://thebillfold.com/2013/01/things-to-think-about-before-pursuing-grad-school/#comment-29916
Wed, 09 Jan 2013 12:29:08 +0000http://thebillfold.com/?p=21103#comment-29916@anecdata ahhhh this whole thread is so great, thank you!
]]>By: sergeant tibbshttp://thebillfold.com/2013/01/things-to-think-about-before-pursuing-grad-school/#comment-29901
Wed, 09 Jan 2013 06:19:58 +0000http://thebillfold.com/?p=21103#comment-29901@punzy Ahh, I wish I had seen this sooner! I’m applying for Ph.D programs in EOH (and some public policy) with an engineering background and I’m having a hard time figuring out the job market for the occupational health people…could I ask you some questions? We should all share our backgrounds, since it seems like we’re not actually all writers here.
]]>By: pawnkneehttp://thebillfold.com/2013/01/things-to-think-about-before-pursuing-grad-school/#comment-29897
Wed, 09 Jan 2013 05:12:46 +0000http://thebillfold.com/?p=21103#comment-29897@vanderlyn Thank you for this. Very well thought out and all important points. As someone who is struggling with ennui & dissatisfaction from my current career, AND considering grad school, this comment is sobering for me. I like the idea of the prestige from a secondary degree, but none of the other stuff you mention!
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